Article of virtu.



A. BOHNSAGK &'H. WILKENHONER.

ARTICLE OF VIRTU. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 24, 1911.

Patented N0v .12,1912.

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ADA BOI-INSACK AND HILDA WILKENHONER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ARTICLE OF VIRTU.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 24, 1911.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912. Serial No. 662,143.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ADA BOHNSAOK and HILDA l/VILKENHONER, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Articles of Virtu, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to articles of virtu, that is, artistic articles formed of wire drawn from rare or precious metals, and finally composed into ornamental articles, such as flowers, leaves and the like, for the ornamentation of wearing apparel; and the invention consists in the combination, details of construction and methods hereinafter described and claimed.

In illustrating and describing our invention, we have preferably chosen to illustrate and describe it, in connection with the production of articles of virtu, such as leaves, flowers and the like, formed of fine, spun or drawn gold, silver, or other precious metallic wire, that may be used in connection with and to adorn wearing apparel, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

In the drawingsFigure 1 shows a supporting frame composed of a fine main wire with a secondary wire spirally wound closely second layer composed of a construction,

- the supporting frame wire.

therearound with each coil touching the adjacent coils. Fig. 1 shows a second method of producing the supporting frame wire. Fig. 1 shows a third method of producing Fig. 2 shows a first layer formed of a series of strands of fine wire wound back and forth across and on the supporting frame. Fig. 3 shows the second step of our method of construction, a

series of continuous fine wire wound back and forth across and on the supporting frame so as to cover the first named layer and at an angle thereto. Fig. 4 showsthe' next step in the a third layer or series of continuous fine wire wound back and forth across the supporting frame and laid over the second layer and at'an angle to the first and second layers. Fig. 5 shows the next step in the construction of the article, a fourth layer or series of fine strands of wire wound back and forth across the supporting frame and laid over the other layers so as to cover the same and at an angle to each of the other layers. Fig. 6 shows the completed article as it appears inthe final step, after all the strands or layers have been completed, and the article beaten or hammered into a compact whole. Fig. 7 shows a flower composed of a plurality of completed leaves or petals. Figs. 8 and 9 are modifications of the method of constructing articles produced in accordance with our improvements.

In illustrating our improvements, as set forth in the figures hereinabove described, we have only shown portions of the figures illustrating the steps of our method of producing the articles for the purposes of clearness of illustration and ease of comprehension, but we believe with suificient exactness to clearly illustrate the matter, and which we submit, when taken in connection with the description hereinafter set forth, will fully disclose our invention, so that those skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains may practise the same.

In carrying out our invention, we first make a supporting frame, preferably as shown in Fig. l, of a main wire a bent into the desired shape and closely Wind thereupon in a series of close spirals a secondary wire a, joining the ends of the wires together at the stem a as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. lVhile this is our preferred construction of frame, yet the supporting frame of wire may be made as shown in Fig. 1 of two fine wires twisted together, or, as shown in Fig. 1 of a single wire in a flat spiral wave, by first winding around a fiat needle in closed spiral form, then drawing it off the needle and stretching it the desired amount. These modifications are desirable at different times to produce different shaped articles, and give different degrees of ornamentation, or ornamental efiects. After we have formed the frame in the desired manner, we take preferably a spool of fine silver or gold, or other precious or rare metallic Wire, and wind or form a primary layer 6, as shown in Fig. :2, on the framework, by securing the first end to the roughened or spiral supporting frame of wire, and then forming the layer by winding the wire back and forth across the supporting frame so as to form a series of strands, each strandof the wire being in juxtaposition or touching the adjacent one and forming a layer clear across the supporting frame. We then start or continue the same wire so as to form a second layer a, as shown in Fig. 3, covering or inclosing the first layer by winding the wire back and forth again over at an angle to the strands of the first named layer and continue this second layer in a series of strands of fine wires clear across so as to cover the first named layer-the roughened edges of the framework and the roughened edges formed by the bent ends of the first named layer acting to securely hold the second layer or series'of strands of fine wires in operative condition. lVe then continue winding this continuous piece of wire back and forth over the second layer, as shown in Fig. 4i, so as to form a third layer or series of strands of fine wire over and at an angle to the strands of the other layers and clear across to completely cover or inclose them, and substantially parallel with the stem a of the leaf, it being understood that the frame presents a roughened edge which acts to securely hold the third layer in operative position. We next continue the winding of this piece of fine wire in the same manner back and forth over the third layer so as to form a fourth layer 6 with its strand wires at right angles to the strand wires of the third layer and the stem a so as to cover the previously described three layers, (see Fig. 5) the roughened edges of the partially formed leaf acting to hold this series of strands of fine wire of the fourth layer 1n operative position. The end of the wire is then securely fastened to the leaf, preferably at or near the stem port-ion a To complete the leaf, we finally beat or hammer it much the same manner as embroidery 1s hammered on an embroidery pad, which beating or hammering forms the whole into a compact organized structure, giving a lustrous or frosty effect to the completed leaf or petal, as shown at f in Figs. 6 and 7. This final step not only produces this intimate relation of the parts forming the compact whole so as to give a final ornamental effect, but prevents the disintegration of the wire into its original condition wlthout destroying the whole leafan ad vantage whichwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art to which this most nearly appertains, for the reason that it makes the article not only more ornamental but eX- ceedingly durable.

In Figs. 8 and 9 we have shown modifications of our invention, in which a leaf of desired shape is shown and in which the supporting framework 9 is formed of two twisted or spirally arranged wires with several separated supporting wires arranged substantially longitudinally of the leaf and over which, as shown in Fig. 9, several layers or series of strands of wires are substantially arranged as hereinbefore described in connect-ion with Figs. 1 to 6, and

finally hammered into a compact whole as has already been hereinbefore described in connection with such figures.

It will be understood that our invention is capable of being formed in many difierent shapes so as to effect reproductions of any kind of leaves or petals and simulate the desired flowers or similar articles. As shown in Fig. 7, when the petal is completed or hammered into a compact organized structure, its edges may be given an irregular or petal-like appearance.

The stamen or central portion h of the flower, which is herein shown as globular in shape and appearance, may be formed in any desired manner by rolling the wire into a spherical shape over any desired kind of material in layer-like form and hammering or beating it into'final shape so as to produce the intimate relation of the strands of wire, and several of these petals may be secured together, as shown in Fig. 7, to simulate the appearance of the desired flower or other article.

Very antique, quaint and ornamental effects may be produced in articles made in accordance with these improvements by making the different layers of different kinds or colors of wire, such as silver, gold, platinum, bronze and the like, so as to obtain differentcoloring efi'ects, to suit the fancy or taste of different persons, all of which will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art to which this most nearly appertains.

In closing, we desire to say that we be lieve our invention is not only new in its detail of construction and arrangement, but so far as we are aware is the first of the character or kind to be produced in any manner in either the United States or any foreign country.

We claim:

1. In improvements of the class described, the combination of a supporting framework formed of twisted or spirally wound fine wire mechanism, and a plurality of layers of fine wire, each layer formed of a strand of closely arranged fine wires supported by the wire framework and the adjacent layer and with the strands thereof arranged at an angle to the strands of each of the other layers, and with the whole hammered into a compact organization.

2. In improvements of the class described, the combination of a supporting framework formed of two twisted or spirally wound wires and forming a roughened edge for a leaf-like article, and a plurality of layers of fine wire strands arranged thereon, each of which is formed of a single piece of continuous fine wire engaging the roughened edge of the leaf-like structure and with its wire strands arranged at an angle to the strands, of each of the other layers, and

with the whole hammered into a compact organization.

3. In improvements of the class described, the combination of a supporting framework formed of spirally wound or twisted fine wire mechanism forming a roughened edge for the leaf-like article, and a plurality of layers each formed of a continuous piece of fine Wire wound back and forth across the framework and engaging the roughened edge thereof with each of the strands of such layer arranged at an angle to the strands of each of the other layers, and with the whole hammered into a compact organization.

4;. In improvements of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame portion formed of twisted or spirally wound wire mechanism forming the edge of the leaf-like article, a primary layer formed of a series of closely arranged strands of wire wound back and forth across and engaging the spirally formed frame Wire, and a plurality of layers of fine wire similarly formed arranged thereon, each layer of which has its strands engaging the spirally roughened edge of the adjacent lower layer as formed and with the strands of each layer arranged at an angle to the strands of each of the other layers, and with the whole hammered into a compact ornamental organized structure.

5. In improvements of the class described, the combination of a supporting framework formed of spirally wound wire mechanism forming a roughened edge for a leaf-like article, a primary layer of fine wire closely wound back and forth completely across and engaging the roughened edge thereof and with the strands at an angle to the stem of the leaf-like article, and three layers of similarly formed wire mechanism arranged thereon engaging with the roughened edge of the leaf-like article with the strands of each layer arranged at an angle to the strands of each of the other layers with the strands of the last or uppermost layer arranged substantially at right angles with the stem of the leaf-like article, and the whole hammered into a compact organization.

In testimony whereof, We have subscribed our names.

ADA BOHNSACK. HILDA VVILKENHONER. Witnesses:

THOMAS FRANCIS SHERIDAN, HENRY A. PARKS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

